Animal-power



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. F. MOOREARY.

ANIMAL POWER.

No. 373,467. Patented Nov. 22, 1887.

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(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

J. F. McGREARY.

ANIMAL-POWER.

No. 373,467. Patented Nov. 22, 1887.

UNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

ANIMAL- POWER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 373,467, dated November 22, 1887.

Application filed June 8, 1887.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES F. IlIOCREARY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New Brighton, in the county of Beaver and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Animal- Powers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is applicable to animal powers, particularly that class in which a small auimal-such as a dogis used for driving it; and itrelates particularly to certainimprovements in the frame,whereby it may be folded up in compact form, an ordinary dog-power, when folded, as shown in Fig. 3, occupying but sixteen by twenty-four inches floor-space. It relates, further, to a novel arrangement of the devices, which take the power from the tread about midway between the ends in such manner that the machine is better balanced and the endless tread better supported than when arranged as heretofore; and, further, to a certain guard arranged by the side of the tread to prevent the animals legs from slip ping from the tread; and, further, to certain improvements in the tread itself.

In order that such improvements may be better understood, I have illustrated my invention by certain drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation of an animalpower embodying my invention set up in working position. Fig. 2 is top plan view of the same with the tread removed. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the power when folded up. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a small section of the tread. Fig. 5 is a side view, enlarged, of the links which support the slats of the tread when straightened out in working position. Fig. 6 is a similar view illustrating the position of the links when passing a pulley. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the links.

In the drawings, where similar letters indicate like parts in all the figures, A A repre sent crossed legs, pivotally connected at a, upon which the other parts of the machine are supported. To prevent the legs from spreading, any preferred or usual means may be employed-such as chains D D. The legs are braced and held apart at desired points by cross-bars a.

Pivoted at b to one or the other of the 0p- Serial No. 2l0,648. (No model.)

posite pairs of legs are side bars, B B, at or near the ends of which are suitably-journaled shafts carrying pulleys or wheels F, over which travels the endless-belt tread E. These bars and the tread supported thereby are pivotally supported, as by clampbolts b, at or near the center thereof, in order to secure proper balance, and may be adjusted on said pivots to any desired angle where they may be secured. \Vhile I do not wish to limit myself to any particular means for securing these parts after adjustment, still I prefer that shown, which consists of a slotted brace-bar, O, pivoted to the upper end of one of the legs and adjust ably connected with one of the side bars 13 by a set-screw, c, passing through the slot 0. There are preferably two of these bars 0, one to each side of the machine.

The main driving-shaft g, carrying the flywheel II, is arranged substantially centrally of the machine and about midway between the pulleys F, over which the endless tread runs. This position of these parts brings their weight at about the central portion of the machine, between the feet of the legs, whereby danger of overturning the machine is lessened.

In order to take power from the tread, the shaft g is provided centrally with a friction or other suitable wheel, G, which I prefer to mount between the upper and lower strands of the belt or tread E, and to make of such size that it will engage with the upper one of said strands. \Vhen thus placed, the wheel Gnot only takes power from the tread. but also supports the central portion thereoffrom sagging. The fly wheel H carries adjustably a wristpin, 1', to which a pitman, l, is connected, which in turn is pivoted to and operates the walking-beam K.

The parts above described may be easily folded into the compact form illustrated in Fig. 3. To do this the set-screw c isloosened and the pitman I disconnected from its wristpin. The crossed legs are then folded together and the side bars and the parts carried thereby folded into substantial line with the legs, the slotted bars 0 moving over the set-screws to permit this movement. The walking-beam K may be folded into line with the other parts, so that the whole apparatus may be stored in a very small space.

In order to prevent the animals legs from slipping from the tread, I mount side or wing boards, L, by the edges of the traveling belt, such boards being supported by brackets or uprights Z from side bars, B. The lower end of either or both pairs of legs may be provided with small rollers 19, which facilitate moving the apparatus when folded.

In Figs. 4., 5, 6, and 7 is illustrated a peculiar drive-chain which I employ to support the ends of the slats e, which form the tread portion of the belt E. Each link M is formed of a web, m, carrying near one end a shortlaterally-projecting pintle, m, adapted to engage with an aperture, m, in the opposite end of an adjacent link, whereby the two are coupled together. Any preferred or well-known means for preventing aecid ental uncouplingsuch as a locking lug or projection on the pintle and a keyhole-shaped aperture-may be used; but as this formsno part of my invention I have not illustrated any such means.

The upper face of the web m is provided with a laterally-projecting flange or plate, N, upon which the slats e are adapted to rest, this flange or plate being provided with several (preferably three) slotted or perforated ears, n, with which engage screws or bolts passing through the slats.

One end of each link M is extended beyond the axial or pivotal line of connection with the adjacent link, the flange N extending to the end of part 0, while the adjacent end of the next link has the flange N cut away or removed, as at 0, for a distance equal to the length of part 0 beyond the pivotal line. This insures that when the links are stretched out in working position, as seen in Fig. 5, the flange or plate carried by part 0 of the link shall rest upon the web of the adjacent link where its flange is removed, as at 0, and thus prevent downward sagging of the chain. The same result may be accomplished, even though the flange or plate N of onelink does not rest on the web at of the links adjacent, provided when the links are in working position the end 0 of one link abuts against the shoulder 0 formed on the nextlink, as will be seen upon "an examination of Fig. 5.

be the best form of apparatus in all its parts embodying my invention, I do not wish to be confined to the details shown, as it will be evident that parts of my invention may be used in machines of different construction, and that parts may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Without limiting myself to the precise construction and arrangement of parts set forth, I claim- 1. In an animal-power, the herein-described foldingframe, consisting of crossed"pivoted legs, side bars pivoted to said legs and adapted to be folded substantially parallel therewith, an endless tread supported by said side bars, and a chain for preventing spreading of the legs, substantially as described.

2. In an animal-power, the herein'described folding-frame, consisting of crossed pivoted legs, side bars pivoted to said legs and adapted to be folded substantially parallel therewith,- an endless tread supported by said bars, a chain for preventing spreading of the legs, and means, substantially such as described, for adjusting said side bars on their pivots to change their inclination, substantially as described.

3. In an animal-power, the combination of the crossed pivoted legs, side bars, B, pivoted to said legs, a tread supported in said side bars, and a slotted brace-bar connecting one of said side bars with one of said legs, whereby the inclination of the tread may be varied, substantially as described.

(I. In an animal-power, the combination of the crossed folding supporting-legs, side bars, B, supported substantially centrally by the legs and adapted to fold thereon, an endlessbelt tread supported on rollers mounted near the ends of said bars, and a driving shaft and wheel operated by the tread and mounted near the central parts of the side bars, whereby the parts when set up are balanced, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof Ihave signed my name I to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES F. MCGREARY.-

Witnesses: y

L. R. STROBRIDGE, H. R. GALHOON. 

